The Coca‑Cola Company today announced that Murat Ozgel, who has served as president of the company’s Bottling Investments Group since 2022, will become president of the Japan & South Korea operating unit effective April 1.

Ozgel succeeds Jorge Garduño, who became the company’s Chief Customer & Commercial Officer Feb. 1.

As president of BIG, Ozgel oversees much of Coca‑Cola's company-owned bottling operations. In this role, Ozgel led the refranchising of operations in five countries to unlock further growth opportunities with independent bottling operations.

"Murat is a deeply experienced leader who has a strong reputation for team management and driving business transformation,” said Henrique Braun, president, International Development. “He has a rich array of experiences across our business in franchise operations, marketing, commercial and innovation, and I’m very confident he will be immensely successful in this new role.”

Ozgel will continue to provide leadership to BIG during a transition period. He will report to Braun.

Prior to his current role, Ozgel served as BIG’s chief growth officer, where he led the organization to enhance its portfolio, capabilities and infrastructure through strategic mergers and acquisitions. Previously, Ozgel was president of the former Middle East and North Africa business unit.

Ozgel has been with the Coca‑Cola system since 2003, when he started at bottler Coca‑Cola Icecek. Ozgel has worked for Coca‑Cola in many parts of the world, from his current base in Dubai to China to the Middle East to his home country, Türkiye. 

Prior to Coca‑Cola, Ozgel held several roles with Procter & Gamble.

Ozgel earned a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from Middle East Technical University.

About The Coca‑Cola Company

The Coca‑Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a total beverage company with products sold in more than 200 countries and territories. Our company’s purpose is to refresh the world and make a difference. We sell multiple billion-dollar brands across several beverage categories worldwide. Our portfolio of sparkling soft drink brands includes Coca‑Cola, Sprite and Fanta. Our water, sports, coffee and tea brands include Dasani, smartwater, vitaminwater, Topo Chico, BODYARMOR, Powerade, Costa, Georgia, Gold Peak and Ayataka. Our juice, value-added dairy and plant-based beverage brands include Minute Maid, Simply, innocent, Del Valle, fairlife and AdeS. We’re constantly transforming our portfolio, from reducing sugar in our drinks to bringing innovative new products to market. We seek to positively impact people’s lives, communities and the planet through water replenishment, packaging recycling, sustainable sourcing practices and carbon emissions reductions across our value chain. Together with our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people, helping bring economic opportunity to local communities worldwide. Learn more at www.coca-colacompany.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.